The Cougars improved to 29-19 on the season with a win over the University of Louisiana-Lafayette on Wednesday | Thom Dwyer/The Cougar
Following a victory against No. 14 Rice University on Tuesday night, the baseball team secured their second consecutive victory against a ranked opponent by defeating the No. 21 University of Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns on Wednesday night.
Junior left-handed pitcher John King started for the Cougars and earned his sixth win of the season. King was impressive, pitching six and one-third innings of two-run baseball. The southpaw allowed just six hits and recorded three strikeouts.
Senior Josh Vidales gave his team a 1-0 nothing lead in the second inning on a hit that scored teammate Connor Wong. Wong’s ninth stolen base of the season set the table for Vidales to capitalize on the first run of the game.
The Cougars are now an impressive 25-6 when they are the first team to score a run.
Houston grabbed a 2-0 advantage in the fourth inning when sophomore infielder Connor Hollis singled to center field allowing sophomore outfielder Corey Julks to score from second base.
Freshman Joe Davis continued his dominant season going 1-3 with an RBI and walk on Wednesday.
Davis picked up his 42nd RBI of the season in fifth inning on a double that plated senior outfielder Michael Pyeatt and extended the Cougar advantage to 3-0.
The Ragin’ Cajuns didn’t go down easy, however, striking for two runs in the seventh inning. After loading the bases, ULL infielder Hunter Kasuls was hit by a pitch that scored the Ragin’ Cajuns first run of the game. Brian Mills then hit a sacrifice fly to score his teammate Brad Antchak from third base.
The Cougars lead was cut to just 3-2 heading into the late innings.
Junior closer Nick Hernandez relieved the starter King in the seventh inning and pitched the rest of the game, en route to notching his eighth save of the season. Hernandez pitched two and two-thirds innings of scoreless baseball, striking out two batters.
The win brings the Cougars record to 22-7 when playing in front of a home crowd at Daryl & Lori Schroeder Park.
The team now travels to Ohio where they will take on a conference foe in the University of Cincinnati Bearcats. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Friday.
